Waltham Forest’s state schools get better results than 90% of towns in England
In reading, writing and maths together, 73% of Waltham Forest’s eleven-year-olds met the expected standard, above both London’s towns (70%) and towns in England (62%). 79 state-funded schools are located in Waltham Forest’s built-up area. Waltham Forest grades A for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #15 of 33 in London. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Waltham Forest’s secondary results beat 78% of English towns; its primary results beat 94%. 73% of the London borough’s 11-year-olds meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England and 72% across Waltham Forest. The spread between primaries is wide: 95% at Yardley Primary School, 37% at Emmanuel Community School. Every school’s result ↓
A grammar school in town
Woodford County High School admits pupils by a test at 11. Their results count in Waltham Forest’s School Grade, as they are state schools many local children attend. After 16 ↓
Riverley beats its intake
Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Riverley Primary School, 23% of pupils are on free school meals and 93% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 62%. Results and intake ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
School Grade
Waltham Forest grades A for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (73% meet the standard)Better than 94% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (50.6 and 53%)Better than 78% of towns in England
Each of Waltham Forest’s 50 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
Each of Waltham Forest’s 18 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)
England’s average schoolWaltham Forest’s average school
The primary figure: 50 primaries in the town, 9,460 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 18 secondaries in the town, 2,986 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Waltham Forest’s 79 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Waltham Forest’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondarySpecial, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 4% at St Mary's Catholic Primary School to 49% at Walthamstow Primary Academy. Against schools with the same intake, Yardley Primary School does best: 95% with 18% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 64%. 41 of 49 primaries and 11 of 18 secondaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest Council handles applications for every state school in Waltham Forest, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 12 of Waltham Forest’s 68 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 15 schools are at or over it.
Hillyfield incl. nursery156%
South Grove incl. nursery115%
Davies Lane incl. nursery110%
Ainslie Wood incl. nursery107%
Parkside incl. nursery107%
Selwyn incl. nursery106%
Norlington School and 6th Form104%
Leytonstone104%
The Winns incl. nursery103%
Yardley incl. nursery102%
Show all 67 schools
Newport incl. nursery101%
Barclay incl. nursery101%
Chase Lane incl. nursery100%
Stoneydown Park incl. nursery100%
St Mary's100%
Handsworth100%
Walthamstow School for Girls99%
Frederick Bremer99%
Oakhill99%
Willowfield99%
Greenleaf incl. nursery98%
Woodford County High98%
Willow Brook School incl. nursery98%
Riverley incl. nursery97%
Chingford97%
Buxton incl. nursery96%
Gwyn Jones incl. nursery96%
Walthamstow95%
Holy Family95%
Kelmscott95%
George Tomlinson incl. nursery95%
The Woodside incl. nursery94%
Whitehall incl. nursery94%
St Mary's94%
Highams Park94%
Coppermill incl. nursery93%
The Jenny Hammond92%
Chapel End Infant School and Early Years Centre incl. nursery92%
George Mitchell incl. nursery91%
Mission Grove incl. nursery89%
Chingford Foundation89%
Henry Maynard incl. nursery89%
Heathcote School & Science College88%
Roger Ascham incl. nursery87%
Connaught School for Girls87%
Sybourn incl. nursery83%
South Chingford Foundation81%
Barn Croft81%
Thomas Gamuel incl. nursery80%
Whittingham incl. nursery78%
St Saviour's76%
Dawlish75%
St Patrick's incl. nursery75%
Eden Girls' School, Waltham Forest73%
St Joseph's incl. nursery73%
Lime Academy Larkswood incl. nursery64%
Chapel End Junior64%
Downsell incl. nursery61%
Salisbury Manor incl. nursery60%
St Joseph's59%
Mayville incl. nursery59%
Thorpe Hall incl. nursery57%
Lammas51%
Longshaw incl. nursery48%
Walthamstow43%
Emmanuel Community39%
Edinburgh24%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
79 state schools in Waltham Forest
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Waltham Forest’s schoolsA32B23C8D313 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Outstanding 7Good 16Report card 11Requires improvement 1Ungraded inspection only 43No published grade 1
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 11 of Waltham Forest’s 79 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Run by
Schools
Pupils
Their letters
United Learning TrustWalthamstow, Whittingham, Salisbury Manor, Longshaw, Walthamstow
Chingford Academies TrustChingford Foundation, South Chingford Foundation
2
1,910
B−C
Arbor Academy TrustDavies Lane, Selwyn
2
1,648
A+A+
Reach2 Academy TrustThe Woodside, Chapel End Junior
2
1,417
BB−
Ray Academy TrustYardley, Roger Ascham
2
969
A+A+
Genesis Education TrustSt Mary's, St Saviour's
2
948
A+A+
Lime TrustLime Academy Larkswood, Lime Academy Hornbeam
2
804
A−
Learning In Harmony Multi Academy TrustWhitefield, Joseph Clarke
2
477
—
Highams Park Academy TrustHighams Park
1
1,592
B+
Hillyfield Primary AcademyHillyfield
1
1,123
A
Buxton School Learning TrustBuxton
1
1,065
B
Partnership LearningGeorge Mitchell
1
973
B+
Exceptional Education TrustNorlington School and 6th Form
1
895
A−
Star AcademiesEden Girls' School, Waltham Forest
1
617
A+
Connaught School for GirlsConnaught School for Girls
1
550
B+
Urbis Academy TrustMayville
1
274
A−
Emmanuel School TrustEmmanuel Community
1
82
D−
Big Creative AcademyBig Creative
1
0
—
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy TrustOur Lady and St George's
1
0
B−
Waltham Forest CouncilWoodford County High, Holy Family, Kelmscott, Heathcote School & Science College, Willowfield, Leytonstone, Walthamstow School for Girls, Frederick Bremer, Newport, Mission Grove, Henry Maynard, Chase Lane, Parkside, The Winns, Stoneydown Park, George Tomlinson, South Grove, Greenleaf, Whitehall, Ainslie Wood, Gwyn Jones, Downsell, Handsworth, Chingford, The Jenny Hammond, Thorpe Hall, St Patrick's, Chapel End Infant School and Early Years Centre, St Mary's, Oakhill, Coppermill, Barn Croft, Dawlish, Edinburgh, St Joseph's, Acacia Nursery, St Joseph's, Church Hill Nursery, Low Hall Nursery, Belmont Park, Burnside Secondary PRU, Hawkswood PRU, Hawkswood Therapeutic
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
8 of Waltham Forest’s 18 state secondaries have sixth forms: Chingford Foundation, Heathcote School & Science College, Highams Park, Holy Family, Norlington School and 6th Form, South Chingford Foundation, Walthamstow and Woodford County High. Big Creative Academy is a state 16–19 school in the London borough. Waltham Forest College, a further-education college, is in the London borough. Leyton Sixth Form College, a further-education college, is in the London borough. Sir George Monoux College, a further-education college, is in the London borough.
Special schools and alternative provision in Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest has 4 special schools (Belmont Park, Joseph Clarke, Lime Academy Hornbeam and Whitefield: 818 pupils) and 3 alternative provision schools, for pupils who can’t attend mainstream school for a time. A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Waltham Forest Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑
Waltham Forest Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.
Towns its size
10th of 44 English towns and cities of 195,000 to 375,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns and cities either side of Waltham Forest, and the top and bottom of the group.
Redbridge has the best-graded schools nearby (A+). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Waltham Forest: 17% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Waltham Forest
Are schools in Waltham Forest good?
Waltham Forest’s state schools earn an A against schools across England: primary results beat 94% of towns in England; secondary results beat 78% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Waltham Forest council.
What is the best secondary school in Waltham Forest?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, Woodford County High School: Attainment 8 of 81.2 and 98% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Waltham Forest?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Yardley Primary School: 95% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Waltham Forest secondary schools have sixth forms?
8 of 18 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Waltham Forest?
Through Waltham Forest Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Waltham Forest are full?
15 of 67 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Waltham Forest?
79 open state-funded schools are located in Waltham Forest’s built-up area: 52 primary, 18 secondary and 9 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
